Samuel mcelroy



No. 62|,362. v Patented Mar. 2|, |899. S. MGELROY.

AUTOMATIC VALVE- (Application led Sept. 4, 1897.)

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SAMUEL MCELROY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,362, dated March21, 1899.

Application filed September 4,1897- Serial No. 650,629. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known, that I, SAMUEL MCELROY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, (Brooklyn) in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticValves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the a-rt to which it appertains to make and use the same.'

This invention relates to automatic turnvalves; and it consists of theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be morefully hereinafter described and claimed.

This invention is intended to provide a valve for water-mains and likeuses, which will act as a stop-valve when closed and when its greatestsection is opposed to the usual current and as a check-valve whenclosed, when the relative pressure thereon is reversed.`

The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages andinconveniences incident to valves for similar purposes now in common useby dispensing with the recesses below and above the valve when closed,with the tapering and sliding faces, which are apt to jam or to beotherwise injured and also havinga tendency to gather sand or-othermaterial on the lower seats or recesses, the expensive and cumbersomescrew-shaft and other gear needed to move them, as well as lengthenedlug-faced joints needed, the uncertainty as to the position of thevalves, in large valves the risk of freezing in the upper chamber or theobjectionable space occupied if they are laid horizontally, and toparticularly overcome the greatest disadvantage in valves of thischaracter now commonly used that arises when they are closed or, beingmoved the entire exposed surface, takes the full pressure of the currentin the main and the valve must be moved a greater distance than thebottom or section height of the connecting-main.

The present invention substitutes a quarter-turn for more than twice themotion. By an eccentric center it largely balances the pressure atstarting opposed to the opening of the valve. It uses the unbalancedpres sure to assist tightness and stability when closed. It permits theconvenient use of devices to cushion and fix the opening, to cush- ,ionthe seat, to lock the valve, and relieve it,

as large surfaces may require. Its beveled valve-seats are at once selfcleansing and tightening, while adapted at the same time to the use ofthe main-valve packing-rings. The largest mains can be laid side by sidenear a street-grade, and the present cumbrous and costly chambers andguard-cases used to render the operating mechanism accessible arematerially modified or entirely s uperseded by other simplerconstruction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the valve-case,showing a portion thereof removed and broken away at one side. Fig. 2 isan end elevation of the valvecase, looking toward-the joint portionthereof. Fig. 3 is a diametric view showing the mode of moving the valveproper and its opposite seats. Fig. 4 is a top plan view, on an enlargedscale, of the operating-gear. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partially insection, of the device shown by Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevationof a guard-case. Fig. 7 is a detail end elevation looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow, Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, thenumerals 1 and 2 designate the opposite sections of the valve-case,which are bolted vtogether in the usual manner and have face- ,oppositevalve-seat faces and located on op posite sides of the stem. The valveseat frames are secured in. place on each side by means of lugs 9,taking into recesses 10 in the valvecase at the face-joint of thelatter. The

seats 7 and 8 are recessed on their beveledv IOO faces to receivepacking-rings 10',which may be of any suitable material, but arespecially and preferably constructed of fine-grain hard wood, whichexperience has indicated to be the best. The angle of the bevel-faces isregulatedto the size and use of the valve and also to guide andself-tighten the valveseats. In an' opposite position an internal lug 11is provided on the valve-case and forms a permanent stop to guard thevalve in opening and prevent the same from turning past its centralline. Extending outwardly or upwardly over the valve-case sections areangular lugs 12, which surround the location of the operating-gearingand are adapted to receive and hold in proper position a removableguard-case 13, which is adapted to protect and also provide means ofaccess to the said mechanism. This case slides over and is held by thesaid lugs and is preferably made in two sections-an upper one 14. and alower one 15. The upper section 14 has a manhole and cover therefor ofthe usual form and is provided at or near its lower end with a widebearing ledge or flange 16, intended to beembedded in the ground belowthe surface of the roadway and to take the pressure of streetvehicles orother loads on the cover without transmitting it to the lower section ofthe valve-case inclosing the actuating-gearing. To accommodate thisintended use, the upper section is made larger than the lower sectionand slides freely over the latter, and the said lower section isexpanded below the joints of the two sections, so as to properly rest onthe valve-case, as set forth.

In Figs. 4. and 5 the enlarged views of the operating mechanism areshown, as well as the lock and relief devices. Preferably, apinion 17 ismounted on the valve-case and engages a spur-wheel 13 on the projectingend of the valve-stem. This form of arrangement of mechanism isparticularly adapted to large valves requiring multiplied power. Themechanism for operating the present form of valve has the specialadvantage of an adaptability to be worked by a key-rod-with a socketfitting over the head of the pinion or, if no pinion is used, of thevalve-stem, the latter carrying a hand-wheel or removable lever-arm ofany desired power, which when not in use can be disconnected and placedwithin the guardcase and is economical in cost and space and always inconvenient position for use.

The spur-wheel 18 has a portion thereof on its inoperative side formedwithout teeth, none being needed at that point, as but a quarter-turn,more or less, is given to the wheel, and on its under face said wheel isprovided with a post 19, which when the valve is opened comes in contactwith the end of a spring-arm 20 to stop the valve a short distance fromits full opening and use the springpressure in cooperation with thebalance of pressure in a reactingcurrent to insure prompt closure whenthe device serves as a checkvalve. Vhen the valve is used as astopvalve, the mechanism may be employed to close the same. To cushionany violent closure of the valve, the post 16, as indicated at 21, Fig.4, is adapted to engage with a springarm 22, also located on thevalve-case and engagiug the said post before thevalve closes, it beingunderstood that the tension of said spring-arms is to be regulated bysuitable setscrews. To control the valve-seating in case the spur-wheelis not used, the same construction is arranged in connection with aratchetwheel which may be applied to the valvestem head or on the armattached to the valvestem head if no ratchet-wheel is used. To lock thevalve when closed, the spur-wheel 1S is employed to actuate aratchet-wheel 23, with which it meshes, the latterbeing engaged bya pawl24, with a spring 25 bearing thereagainst in the usual manner. To throwand hold the pawl out of gear, awiper 26 is used.

To provide, as circumstances sometimes require, an automatic relief fora check-valve if closed and locked, a small cylinder 27 is employed,which is cast or bolted to the valvecase and is provided with a piston23 anda piston-rod 29, as well as a stuffing-box 30 and two posts 3l, towhich is secured a perforated bearing-plate 32. The piston-rod 29 passesthrough l(he said plate and is secured to a headplate 33, having weights34 resting Vthereon to hold the piston in place when not acting as arelief to thevalve. The bearing-plate 33 carries a connecting-link 35,pivoted on a proper journal-bearing at its head and connected with asecond journal-bearing at its lower end on a cani 36, which is alsoproperly fitted with journal-bearin gs and having a projection which,when it is turned by lifting the bearing-plate 33, comes in contact witha boss or projection 37 on a rectangular bar 37, having a clasp-hook 38at its end, and when the said projection of the cam engages the saidboss or bar the latter, being connected to the pawl 24,0perate's it outof engagement with the ratchet-wheel 23, overcoming the tension of thespring 25, and thereby leave the remaining mechanism free to be actuatedby the valve.

Assuming that the valve is closed, acting as a stop-valve, rmly held inits seat by the pressure of the Water-main and by the ratchetwheel andpawl; but a severe reacting blow comes upon the other face of the valve,which may rupture the main if not relieved. This is caused over and overagain in a water-main by starting an engine without opening the stopvalve. The increased pressure thus brought to bear lifts the loadedpiston, with its rod 2S and circular plate or head 33, and the latter,being connected with the cam 36, rocks the latter to engage the catch onthe bar 37, which is connected with the pawl 3i, and thus draws it clearof the ratchet-wheel 23, freeing the valve and allowing the latter tofly open under such increased pressure.

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The mechanism set forth is all supported by and fastened to a table 39,cast or bolted to the valve-case.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In avalve of the character set forth, the combination `of a circular valve,havinga shaft eccentric to the center of its circle, and having beveledseats, and a circular seat-frame carrying beveled packing-rings, withwhich said beveled seats engage, substantially as described.

2. In avalve of the character set forth, the combination of a pivotedcircular valve, mechanism for controlling the same, a stop on one of thewheels of said mechanism, and springs engaging said stop ,near each endof its throw for cushioning the valve at or near its point of fullopening and at or near its point of closing.

3. In a valve mechanism of the character set forth, the combination of acircular valve,

mechanism for controlling the same, an automatic locking device, coacting with saidmechanism, and an automatic relief `mechanism to unlock thevalve under unusual pressure, substantially as described.

4. In a valve of the character set forth, the combination of a pivotedcircular valve, external mechanism for controlling the same, aguard-case for said mechanism, and a tele scoping head-section for saidguard-case pro= vided near its lower end with a bearing flange orledgeadapted to be embedded in the ground below the surface thereof, for thepurpose and substantially as described.

. In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses;

SAMUEL MCELROY.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL H. MoELRoY, y HARRY C. WINGATE.

